Electric switch



L. E. CARLSON, ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1919.

1 352,246. Pawntedsept. 7, 1920.

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H 15 O V O y L /;20 if 12 2 it I 4 *21 21 1/ :29 f/ZX v 23 O 20 O 20 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC? SWITCH.

Application filed November 20, 1919.

To all ic/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAwmcNcn ll. (ARL sex, a citizen ot' the United States of linerica, residincat Huntington. in the county ot limiting-ton and State of lndiana. have invented new and useful Improvements in lllcctric tbvitches. of which the following is a specification.

The object oi the invention is to provide a simple and etlicient means for use especially in connection with domestic electric lighting systems as a means of regulating or ((Hitl'tllllllQf the intensity of brilliance oi the light. as for example in a sick room or where it is desired to maintain a li 'ht at all times. and yet wherein it is preterable to have the light tempered or materially re duced in intensity. to avoid the necessity as ordinarily practised of employing obstructing or semi-opaque shields tor interfering with the distribution at the light to avoid the annoyance oi the patient. or in other words to provide a means in connection with a house or similar lighting system whereby either the tall intensity of the light or any proportion therco't' may be utilized, and whereby the intensity thercoi may be regulated momentarily by the attendant, to suit the conditions under which it is being used, and with this object in view the invention.

' in a construction and con'ibination parts of which a preterred embodiment is shown in the accon'ipanyiin; drawing, wherein Figure l is a rear view ol' the switch, a portion or" the. casing being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a lmnritmlinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a tront view.

Fm. -lis a detail view resistance bar;

lhe invention is shown in connection with an ordinary house lighting switch ot the on and oil' type employing the push buttons ll) and ll. a pivotal switch closer l2 and the con acts II and It. the contact lil as usual forming the terminal of a circuit wire 15. 'lho other circuit wire it instead of ot the rheostat or Specification of Letters Patent.

atcnted Sept. 7, 1920. Serial No. 339,485.

being extended as in the ordinary practice directly to the contact or terminal 14: is arranged to include a rheostat 17 which may by mounted upon the same base plate 18 as the switch mechanism and consists of a blade I!) pivotally mounted as at 20 and designed to traverse a rheostat or resistance bar 21 of carbon or the like made in segmental form as indicated. the circuit wire 16 being connected with the hub of the blade 15 while the intermediate connecting wire 16- extendingto the contact or terminal 11- is attached to one end of said resistance or rheostat bar 21 as shown at :22.

Obviously by varying the position of the blade l9 with relation to the resistance bar, by turningthe knob 23 which is exposed at the front surface of the base hence is as accessible to the operator as the buttons it) and 11. the current may be caused to traverse either a grfcatcr or aless resistance and thus be modiliedin intensity accordingly. to the end that when desired a very dim light may be produced at the lamps. or the full strength of the current may be utilized as preterred, and in yariation between these extremities may be secured merely by the manipulation} 0t said knob.

llhat is claimed is:

switch mechanism t'or lighting systems en'ibodying a base plate, a circuit closer, provided with terminals and tor connecting the same and means operable from the tront ot the base plate tor actuating the switch arm, an arcuate resist ance bar mounted on the base plate and terminally connected with one of said contacts, a blade pivotally mounted at one end of the base plate and having its remaining end bearing upon the resistance bar for movement thereof. and a knob exposed at the trout ot the base plate and connected to the pivot ot' the blade. whereby angular movement may be imparted to the latter tor the purpose specified. 7

In testimony whereof l aliix my signature.

plate 18 and a switch arm ill 

